The answer: Newport, RI.

When my friend suggested we take a short road trip over the July 4th weekend, I thought of going up to Newport, where the rich and famous from the late 19th century spent the summer seasons in their huge mansions. I just finished the biography of Alva and Consuelo Vanderbilt that came out last year.

Marble House, the Vanderbilt's "cottage"

Alva Vanderbilt's Chinese teahouse

The Breakers, the mansion of another family of Vanderbilts

The veranda at The Breakers

In addition to huge mansions, Newport also had really great light. At sunset, it turned everything pastel shades. It looked like it had been painted by that really horrible painter who has those stores in the mall.

Rich people still live in Newport. For example, in this house.

Newport also has some damn fine seafood, according to Kris, who partakes of such things.

I think this is the New York Yacht Club

Newport is well-known for good restaurants, so I had researched ahead of time some places to go. I wanted to visit a famous old diner, but it had been knocked down last year. A Tim Horton's now stands in its place.

We did find the Blue Plate Diner, which I liked for its oddly pointy silverware, and the fact that it had Diner City's Ten Commandments painted on its walls.

P.S. Today is Mike's birthday, so leave him happy birthday comments.